STRAS EXTENDED!!! (7 years, $175 million)

[BrandonK]

I heard one opt out after five years.

He'll be 32? Good for him -- if he actually stays healthy, he could turn another contract, a la Grienke. Surprised it's not at year 3 or 4 though, especially if it's a player option

[imref]

Strasburg breakdown, per person w/ knowledge: $15M per 2017-23. $70M deferred at no interest ($10M per in '24-30.) Much like Scherzer deal.

-Wagner

LAC

he really gave us a home team discount.  There's no reason to think, assuming he stays healthy this year, that he wouldn't have gotten well more than 7/$175 with less deferred money in FA.   Again, I have to think that the way we treated his TJ recovery had a lot to do with his decision-making.  The Nats, unlike Atlanta and NY, put pitcher's health ahead of winning.

[Natsinpwc]

he really gave us a home team discount.  There's no reason to think, assuming he stays healthy this year, that he wouldn't have gotten well more than 7/$175 with less deferred money in FA.   Again, I have to think that the way we treated his TJ recovery had a lot to do with his decision-making.  The Nats, unlike Atlanta and NY, put pitcher's health ahead of winning.

That's a good point.  I think the shut down did play a role in the signing.  The national media will never admit that because it does not fit their agenda.

How will the team sign any every day free agents with this deferred money?

[BrandonK]

That's a good point.  I think the shut down did play a role in the signing.  The national media will never admit that because it does not fit their agenda.

How will the team sign any every day free agents with this deferred money?

Offer them way too much money, and they'll bite. Max did

[Natsinpwc]

Offer them way too much money, and they'll bite. Max did

Well, this past offseason did not seem that was what they wanted to do.  We shall see--they need Robles and Stevenson to move fast through the system or do something to get some hitters.

[BrandonK]

Well, this past offseason did not seem that was what they wanted to do.  We shall see--they need Robles and Stevenson to move fast through the system or do something to get some hitters.

They didn't offer more money, especially if a good chunk was deferred.

[mitlen]

2:15 on 106.7   ...   official announcement.   I suspect it'll be on MASN as well   ....   if there's not an Oreos replay from 2010.

[mitlen]

When are the opt outs? How's that work with the deferrals, too?

Opt outs at years 3 and 4.

[skippy1999]

2:15 on 106.7   ...   official announcement.   I suspect it'll be on MASN as well   ....   if there's not an Oreos replay from 2010.

[BrandonK]

Opt outs at years 3 and 4.

Makes more sense.

[BrandonK]

"Strasburg would earn a $1 million performance bonus each year for pitching 180 innings. The new contract has an escape clause: Strasburg can opt out and become a free agent after the 2019 or 2020 seasons."

[UMDNats]

prediction: harper is extended before the end of this year.

please baby jesus

[spidernat]

If the deferred money is guaranteed then he can opt out after 3 or 4 years and the deal isn't really a discount.

[BrandonK]

If the deferred money is guaranteed then he can opt out after 3 or 4 years and the deal isn't really a discount.

Yup, it's a $25M/yr deal, but everyone loves it and it's a discount!

[spidernat]

Yup, it's a $25M/yr deal, but everyone loves it and it's a discount!

It's more than that if he leaves after 3 or 4 years. But I don't really care if it's a discount or not. I'm just glad they paid to secure his services for a few more seasons. I think Strasburg is about to go to a different level of dominance. I just hope we can jettison some of the refuse around him so we can compete for a title.

[BrandonK]

It's more than that if he leaves after 3 or 4 years. But I don't really care if it's a discount or not. I'm just glad they paid to secure his services for a few more seasons. I think Strasburg is about to go to a different level of dominance. I just hope we can jettison some of the refuse around him so we can compete for a title.

True, if he opted out after 3 years, it'd actually be $38.3M/yr -- wow. This is assuming that the entire portion of the deferral is guaranteed (sounds like it is?). Why the hell would he not opt, if he had $70M guaranteed?

[Ray D]

Opt outs at years 3 and 4.

5 would have made sense.  3 and 4? That's a terrible deal.

[mitlen]

5 would have made sense.  3 and 4? That's a terrible deal.

Chattering class thinks that's why Stras/Boras took the deal.   That was their "give back" from the team for extending.

[Mr Clean]

Kudos to Stras. He fooled the haters.

[Natsinpwc]

Chattering class thinks that's why Stras/Boras took the deal.   That was their "give back" from the team for extending.

Yea. It's not terrible. He could have gotten more on the open market. So team had to provide opt outs.

[houston-nat]

It's more than that if he leaves after 3 or 4 years. But I don't really care if it's a discount or not. I'm just glad they paid to secure his services for a few more seasons. I think Strasburg is about to go to a different level of dominance. I just hope we can jettison some of the refuse around him so we can compete for a title.

So apparently the deal is that if he opts out, he gets only the deferred money from the years where he stuck around. So if he opts out after three years, it's 3/45 with an extra 30 mil deferred for 3/75. (My source here is Dave Cameron at FanGraphs.)

[NJ Ave]

5 would have made sense.  3 and 4? That's a terrible deal.

I still don't understand this point of view.

Okay, people make the point that the only guys who don't opt out are guys who get injured/start to suck. Well yeah, but aren't all baseball contracts fully guaranteed, besides the odd option year? So even if there isn't an opt out, you're not insured against having to pay the albatross contract of a pitcher who gets injured.

And second, who's to say it'll make sense for the Nats to re-sign him in 3/4 years? There are plenty of scenarios I could envision where you let a 30/31 year old pitcher walk instead of re-signing him. All you need it pitcher development, team regression, or a combination of both to make it make sense.

Third, what's the alternative - that we DON'T SIGN HIM AT ALL? That's BETTER?

[mitlen]

I think the TJ surgery (his general health issues as well) is the moving part in all this.    Each side is hedging their bet.

[BrandonK]

So apparently the deal is that if he opts out, he gets only the deferred money from the years where he stuck around. So if he opts out after three years, it's 3/45 with an extra 30 mil deferred for 3/75. (My source here is Dave Cameron at FanGraphs.)

That's what I expected ($25M/yr), but the WaPo article made it sound like all $70M is getting paid out.

[BrandonK]

I still don't understand this point of view.

Okay, people make the point that the only guys who don't opt out are guys who get injured/start to suck. Well yeah, but aren't all baseball contracts fully guaranteed, besides the odd option year? So even if there isn't an opt out, you're not insured against having to pay the albatross contract of a pitcher who gets injured.

And second, who's to say it'll make sense for the Nats to re-sign him in 3/4 years? There are plenty of scenarios I could envision where you let a 30/31 year old pitcher walk instead of re-signing him. All you need it pitcher development, team regression, or a combination of both to make it make sense.

Third, what's the alternative - that we DON'T SIGN HIM AT ALL? That's BETTER?

I'm against signing pitchers to 7 year deals. Outside of Felix (Kershaw was an arbitration buyout too), we haven't seen a long-term deal be a great (hell, even good) idea. I guess the Grienke deal was a good one, but he also opted out, so there's that.